We begin with that holiday triumph. So many of you watching it, tweeting it, swimmer diana nyad's swim. Swimming 110 miles without a shark cage, the first ever to do it, 52 hours, her dream finally came true after five tries, her FIRST ONE IN HER 20s. SHE CAME OUT&#243;myR OF THE WATER TO A Cheering crowd, exhausted but victorious. Gio benitez with the first interview on permission, her message and her mask. What she did this time to ward off the jelly fish and those excruciating stings. Reporter: After less than three days and more than 100 miles in the water, 64-year-old diana nyad reached land. We should never ever give up. Reporter: Her dream of swimming from cuba to key west, after four failed attempts, 36 years in the making, finally a reality. You're never too old to chase your dreams. Isn't she amazing. Reporter: Rights outside the hospital after she was released she told us what kept her going. I went through hell on saturday on the night with the jelly fish. I have huge lacerations all over it was difficult to breathe, but, you know, I tell you, my resolve was deep. I just had this attitude of it doesn't matter what it is, find a way. Reporter: She's now the first person ever to swim to florida without a shark cage, her only protection, a specially designed mask to repel jelly fish. Her team feeding her soft high calorie food like pasta. She would drink soup and water through a tube. She made her name as a competitive swimmer. She swam around manhattan in 1975. An inspirational figure asked to explain her drive in a ted talk. I wanted to be difficult. I wanted to take passion, take an unwaivering commitment to be able to get to the other shore. Reporter: She tried to swim from cuba in 1978 at the age of 28 years. Then three more times in the last two years, but every time exhaustion, dehydration or jelly fish stings. I wanted that feeling. Reporter: Forced her to abandon her quest. But today the excitement was contagious here in key west. I kept getting chills. It was just amazing. Reporter: Around the world her extreme dream trending on twitter, so many inspired. This is the greater swimmer of all time. People you could see, they were hungry for that life message of never ever give up. And you never did. And I didn't. Reporter: App incredible journey for her. Tonight we're told the weather for the most part cooperated and that current helped her swim faster.

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